Abstract

Community based Ecotourism (CBET) has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors of the tourism market and protected areas are the foundation of it. Despite this trend, it is still at its toddler stage in Ethiopian national parks. This study focuses on the assessment of challenges of Borena Saynt National Park (BSNP) for CBET development. The study met this research aims through an extensive study of relevant literature and the implementation of practical research. The latter was carried out through personal observations, key informant interview and using questionnaires. The findings of the study have portrayed that constraints such as poor infrastructural developments, (roads, campsites, lodges, lack of abundant health facilities, hotels and electricity); lack of well qualified human power, lack of natural buffer zone, serious environmental degradation, very exaggerated shape, being small in size, preference of locals towards traditional use of the parks resources over conservation and development of ecotourism, population growth due to expectations of growth of social services and development around the park, settlement, unfair and against the human rights relocation and compensation system; human wild life conflict;  and lack of shopping and commercial facilities are persistent challenges for ecotourism development in the area. The main conclusions drawn from this research were that controlling the challenges the park can be said an open air museum for biodiversity and geological features.  Hence, for such a fragile, pristine, and comparatively undisturbed natural areas, ecotourism is a panacea as it could teach the community, help to produce funds for ecological conservation, and enable to directly profit the economic development and political management of native communities, and fosters respect for various cultures and for human rights.

Key words: Borena Saynt, Community based Ecotourism, National park, Panacea.